Signal apparatus for autovehicles.



Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

IILNVE N T O TL CHRISTOPHER c. HOLMES, or PASADENA, CALIFORNIA SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR AUTOVEHICLEQ.

Specification of Letters atent.

Application filed March 24, 1914.

To all #fullo/lz 'it may coiffe/rn f le it. known that I, Cmns'rornin C. HOLMES, a citizen ht the United States et' Ahner-ica, welding ati iasadena, county of lloc Angri-,les7 State oi' California, have in- \(-nte i a certain new' and useful Signal pparatua for utoveliicles; and I do hereby declare the 'following to be a full, clear, and exact. description ot' the invention, such an will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to Signal apparatus for auto vehicles, and it may he said to eonnist in the provision of the novel and uit 'vantaggrourv features' and in the novel and improwd eoiifstructiou, arrangement and ronihiimtion oi" parte and dei ices as will he apparent 'from the del ription and claims which follow hereinafter.

(lne ohicrt of the invention is; to provide nir-,el and iinynoved apparatus; of the clasS specified which is adapted tO-yilnliez'ite he forehand' at a distance lore and aft of the veliicle, whether the operator of the vehicle 'intends to turn it to the right or to the left.

vFurther objectc` el the invention are to provide novel and approved apparatus of the class specified whicl'tis adapted 'tor both dai/'and night service, is simple in construction, economical tonuinufacture.I install, and maintain, readily applied to existing auto vehicles, easy to operate, convenient to natu :,ittractivc in appearance`r eileetive in action. and which is adapted to give an audihle sig-- nal while the vis al signal is being operated.

Other objects and the advantage of the invention will he apparent Afrom a careful consideration of the following description of one form of the apparatus embodying;- thc invention, taken in connection with the aceoinpanyingT drawings in whichm Figure 1 is a hrolen plan view ol an auto vehicleI havingr the ii'nproved signal appar-:h tus applied thereto; Pig. f2 is an enlarged hrolton sectional sew laken on the line ol' Fifa: l l Il isf, an enlarged hrolten plan vieu' oll he improved Signal apparatus; Fig. l in a diagrannmitie view ol.' parts and the electric circuits; Fir 5 is an elevational view ol' one form of the viwual signal, and llig. C ,is :i cross Sectional view taken on the line edc 0i Fig. 2.

The improved signal :xpi'iaratus ma); he arranged at either the front or the.rear of the autov vehicle. il, hut it is preferably arranged at the front of the auto vehicle a5 is Patented Feb, 9, 1 915.

Serial No` 8271904.

shown in thinl case. VA@trip 7, preferably metal, has suitabl;Y secure-l on one end thereof a bearing hloclt 8 on which rests one end of a handle i). lelow the strip 7 is arranged a sprocket wheel l0 througl'i which and the stri p 7, heal-ing block 3, and handle 9 passes a bolt 11 which latter is preferably formed with .squared portions 12 and 13 S0 that the `cprorltet wheel turnawhen the handle 9 is turned. A, suitable ball hearing 14 may lnprovided for the s} r0cket Wheel 10. Through the other end of the strip 7 passes a holt 1? which has on the lower Squared end thereof a sprocket Wheel 16 around which and around the sprocket wheel. Vl0 passes a chain 17. A. ball bearing 18 may be provided for the sprocket Wheel 16. On the squared upper end portion of the bolt 1.5 is fitted a circular bloeit 19 of insulating Inaterial having tl'iereon strips 20 and 20 of mmducting nutterial. n arm Q1, preferably oi fiher or other :suitable insulatingr material, has mounted on one end thereof a suitable electric lamp and haaI the other end thereof preferably suitably secured in a socket which is provided with an extension 21 fitted above the block 19 on the upper end portion ol' the bolt 15, A suitable ball hearing may be provided for the block 1l). To the stripe 20 and 20' are connected suitable binding nuts er screws 26 and 27 `for the conductors and Q91 which lead to the lamp '22 tl'irough a pasnageway 30 in thfg rin 2l, The visual signal on the free end cthe arm Q1 is preferablf,y in the form of a hand 511 havingr mounted thereon the lamp :22. The hand 3l is meier-ably white to be conspicuous on thejirm 2i 'which nia;7 be lolaclt. Voets 32 and 33 are mounted on an insulatingr block 33 suitably secured to the Strip 7, and they have thereon brushes 3V and 35 which are respectively arranged to malte wipingr Contact with the strips and Q0. Binding' nuts Si? and 3l are prhvided on the posts IL and 39. (')ne terminalv of the battery 3G or other suitable courceM-not shownwo electric current connected to the binding nut 2l' through conductor 38, and the other terminal of the source of electric current is connected to lhe binding nut 36 through conduct/,nlfh switch 40, and conductor Lil. The block ha?, thereon an insulated hindng poet to which is connected one cnil of a conductor f1.3 which. latter has its other end connected to one terminal of an :uulihle signal auch as a bell or buzzer l 11. The other terminal of the audible signa-l may be cor.- neeted to the source 3G11 of electric current through the conductors 45 and 38. Projections 46 and 47 are provided on the handle 9 and adapted to make wiping contact with the post 42 to close the circuit through the audible signal 44 while the handle is being turned to operate the arm 21 to display the visible signal 31. The handle 9 may be connected to the ground 48 through a conductor 49, and the source 36 of electric current may be connected to the ground 48 throu h a conductor 49. Notches 50 and 51 at rig t angles to a Anotch 52 are provided in the bearing block 8, and a dog 53 is mounted on a pivot 54 on the handle 9 and has one end thereof adapted to fit in the notches 50, 51, and 52, and has the other end thereof pressed by a spring 55 which is interposed between said dog and the handle 9.

lVhen the signal apparatus 1s arranged at the front end of the auto vehicle (Pas shown in this instance-the end portion of the strip 7 having the block 8 thereon may be vpassed through the dashboard 56 and a strengthening plate 57 suitably secured on the dashboard, and a brace 58 may have one end portion suitably secured to the strip 7 and its other end portion fitted on the bolt 11. The other end portion of the strip T maybe disposed under the top part of the hood 59, and the bolt 15 and the posts 32 and 33 may be passed through insulating bushings 69 and 6lA -fitted in openings through the top part of the hood.

From the foregoing description the mode of operation of thesignal apparatus will be readily understood by those sliilled in the art. In the normal or neutral position the arm 2l extends longitudinally of the hood 59, and the dog 53 lits in the notch 52 t0 hold the arm 2l from movement. When the op erator intends to turn the auto vehicle 6 to the right, he presses down on tl'iedog53 and turns the handle 9 to the left until the dog l53 fits in the notch 50; and when he intends to turn the auto vehicle to the leitt from normal position, he presses dow n onthe dog 53 and turns the handle 9 to the right until the dog 53 fits in the notch 51. When the handle 9 is turned to the left the arm 21 is swung to the right, and when the handle is turned to the right the arm Il is swung to the left` When the handle 9 has; been. turned to have the dog 53 fitted in e' ther of the notches 50 and 51, the arm .)lfis locked in position and extends substantizfllly :it right angles to the auto vehicle, anf. they visual signal 31 extends outwardly beyond the side of the auto vehicle so that it (an beasily seen at a distance l'ore or aft lof tie auto vehicle. Vhile the handle 9 is being' turned to the right or the left, the p 'ojeuzion 47 or the projection 4G thereon makes wiping contact with the post 42 to close the circuit through the audible signal ll, whereupon current from the source 3G passes through conductors 38 and 45, thence through the audibl signal 44, thence through conductor 43, pot 4Q, handle 9, thence through the bolt 1l and conductor 49 to the frame or ground 48, and thence through the conductor 49 to the source 36. At night, the switch 40 being closed, current passes from thesource 3G', thence through conductor 38, brush 35, conducting strip 2U, conductor 29, lamp 22, conductor 28, conducting strip 20, brush 34, conductor 41, switch 40, and con ductor 39 to the source 36.

ll'hile one form of signal apparatus embodying the invention has been particularly illustrated and described, there are many minor changes and modifications thereof that will readily occur to those skilled in the art-wherefore the right is reserved to all such changes and n'ioditications as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention asdeined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a strip, a bearing block mounted on one end portion of the strip, a post on the bearing block, a bolt passing through said strip and through said bearing block, a handle aflixed on said bolt and rotatively mounted on the bearing block, said handle provided with projections adapted to make wiping contact with the post when said handle is turned, a source of electric current, anI audible signal, electrical connections between said source of electric current and the audible signal, post, and handle, a bolt passing through the other end portion of the strip, an arm o eratively connected with the last mentioned olt, sprocket wheels on the bolts, a chain passing around the sprocket Wheels, a visual si al at the free end of said arm, and means or locking said handle in adjusted position on the bearing block.

2. In apparatus of the class Specified, the combination of a strip, a bearing block mounted on one end portion of the strip, a bolt passing through said strip and through said bearing block, a handle affixed on said bolt and rotatively mounte'd on the bearing block, a bolt passing through the other end portion of the strip, a circular block of insulating material mounted on the last mentioned bolt, conducting strips mounted on the circular block, an insulati block mounted on the strip, posts mounte 'on the insulating block, brushes mounted on the posts and adapted to make wiping contact with said conducting strips, an arm operatively connected with the last mentioned bolt, sprocket Wheels on the bolts, a chain passing around the sprocket wheels, a source -of electric current, a lamp arranged on the free end of said arm, 'electrical connections between said conducting stri s and said lamp, electrical connections etween the source of current and said posts, and means for locking said handle in adjusted position on said bearing block.

3. In signal apparatus for auto vehicles having a hood and dashboard, the combinam tion of a strip passing through the dashboard and extending under the upper part of the hood, a bearing block mounted on one end portion of the strip, a bolt passing through said strip and through said bea 7ing block, a handle affixed on said bolt and 1-otatively mounted on the bearing block, a bolt passing through the other end portion of the strip and through said hood, an arm operatively connected With the last inentioned bolt, sprocket Wheels on the bolts, a chain passing around the sprocket Wheels, a visual signal arranged on the free end of said arm and adapted to extend beyond the side of the auto vehicle when said handle is turned, and means for looking said handle in adjusted position on the bearing block.

4. In signal apparatus for auto vehicles having a hood and a dashboard, the combination of a strip passing through the dashboard and extending under the 'upper of the hood, a bearing block mounted on one end portion of the strip, a post on the hearing block, a bolt passinfT through said strip and through said bearing block, a handle aliixed on said holt and rotatively mounted on the bearing block, said handle provided with' projections adapted to maire Contact with said post when turned, a sour-ee of cie: ble signal, electrical co source of eiectrie current and. signal, post, and handie, e. li through the other end portion and through said hoor" insulating metterli mentioned bolt, c' Y on the circular l ek, mounted on the strip, pos insulating and in, hood, brushes mounted orf adapted to mali-e wiping contm conducting strips, an erm op nested. with the last mentioned wheels onv the holte; a chain pa.. the sprocket wheels, a lmnp arraug: Y free end of said electrical mori between said conducting stri' lamp, electrical connections source of current and post for locking seid handle .u2 eofj on the bearing lolo-:firl ln. testimonr wher name to this two subseri log wi county of Los Ange es, S this 18th day of Merch L CHUSTQ E23, l/Vitnesses:

CHARLES Piemon, MARY Piani. 

